Sports

Kvitova, Keys into Cincinnati Open qtrs

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova eased past Kristina Mladenovic to reach the quarter-finals of Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

After eliminating Serena Williams on Tuesday, Kvitova took little time to make it through round three, seeing off her opponent 6-4 6-2. In between rain interruptions, the pair exchanged breaks in the first set, Kvitova ultimately serving out the set and moving on to break Mladenovic in a marathon game at the start of the second.

Kvitova kept up the momentum from there, racing to a 5-0 lead and despite dropping serve and failing to convert a match point, she served out on her second attempt to take the match after 90 minutes on court.

The former world number two will now face number 15 seed Elise Mertens, who beat US Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets 7-6 (10/8) 6-2.

Mertens, who’s making her main draw debut here in Cincinnati, earned her biggest win-by-ranking of her career over World No.3 Stephens, edging through after a hard-fought battle.

Meanwhile, Madison Keys used her forehand to beat Angelique Kerber, one of her toughest matchups, and advance to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open on Thursday night between bursts of rain that resulted in hours-long delays to start times.

Keys had lost five straight matches against No. 4 Kerber, but turned to her forehand to rally for a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory. She hit 35 forehand winners, including the match-ending shot for her first Cincinnati quarterfinals. She’s expecting a lot of attention at the U.S. Open, where she reached the final last year and lost to Sloane Stephens, her best showing in a Grand Slam event.

Del Potro wins

amid rain delays

Juan Martin del Potro quickly dispatched South Korean Chung Hyeon 6-2 6-3 in a second-round match at the rain-hit Cincinnati Masters on Thursday that was carried over from the previous day because of inclement weather.

The pair were delayed from taking the court on Thursday because of more rain and then had to endure another weather-related suspension just six minutes into their match.

Del Potro was not rattled by the delays and did well to attack Chung’s forehand throughout the 81-minute encounter that determined the final entry into the last 16.

This marks Del Potro’s fourth consecutive last-16 appearance in Cincinnati, where the Argentine appears to be in fine form right in time for the US Open.

Next up for Del Potro, who this week reached a career-high third in the world rankings, will be a clash with Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios.